Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors: A Brief Current Review

Title: Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors: A Brief Current Review

Volume: 2 Issue: 2

Author(s): Tinggang Li, Junxin Liu and Renbi Bai

Affiliation:

Keywords: Membrane aerated biofilm reactors, bubble-less aeration, biofilm stratification, membrane meterials and modules, applications

Abstract: Membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs) represent a relatively new biotreatment technology. In a MABR, biofilm is grown on a gas-permeable membrane (often a hollow fiber membrane). Soluble organic compounds in the liquid are supplied to the biofilm from the biofilm-liquid interface whereas oxygen supply to the biofilm is from the biofilm-membrane interface (by oxygen diffusing through the membrane). MABRs can achieve bubble-less aeration and high oxygen utilization efficiency (up to 100%) and the biofilm can be stratified into aerobic/anoxic/anaerobic zones to simultaneously achieve removal of carbonaceous organic pollutants as well as nitrification and denitrification (if needed) in a single biofilm. This article briefly reviews the MABR process, including the characteristics, membrane materials, modular design, operation parameters and the potential applications, from relevant recent patents and literature.

Cite this article as:

Li Tinggang, Liu Junxin and Bai Renbi, Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors: A Brief Current Review, Recent Patents on Biotechnology 2008; 2 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187220808784619739